Donate Life Rose Parade Float
Looping Pathway of Magical Hearts Invites All Americans to Journey with Recipients, Donor Families and Living Donors and Consider Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – June 18, 2012 – Donate
Life launched its tenth national Rose Parade campaign to save and heal lives with
its most original float design to date: a continuous, looping path through a
magical, heart-filled world representing the Journeys of the Heart experienced by those touched by organ,
eye and tissue donation and transplantation.
Donate Life’s unique Rose Parade float entry will transport
30 riders whose own journeys as transplant recipients, living donors and family
members of deceased organ, eye and tissue donors encompass the highs and lows
that life has to offer. The float’s 200-foot-long, heart-shaped pathway is
lined with 72 memorial “floragraph” portraits of deceased donors who are remembered
every step of the way.
“Our tenth anniversary and the parade theme “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!™”
inspired us to create a design as unique and dramatic as the journey
experienced by our community,” said Bryan Stewart, chairman of the Donate Life
Rose Parade Float Committee and vice president of communications at OneLegacy, the nonprofit organ and tissue
recovery organization serving the greater Los Angeles area. “The places we go
range from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, and every point in
between. On New Year’s Day 2013, we will invite viewers by the tens of millions
to take a journey with us and consider organ, eye and tissue donation.”
The float’s collection of joyful hearts representing the new
life made possible by transplantation is grounded by a reverent dedication
garden filled with roses bearing personal messages honoring those who make the
gift of life possible. The journey peaks with intertwined red and purple hearts
representing the love and courage that define humanity at its best.
Since its debut on New Year’s Day 2004, the Donate Life Rose
Parade float has become the world’s most visible campaign to inspire people to
become organ, eye, and tissue donors. The concept originated with lung
recipient Gary Foxen of Orange, Calif., who wanted to express gratitude to
donors who make transplantation possible. Now, in addition to the 40 million
viewers who view the Rose Parade in the stands and on TV, dozens of events are
held in cities and towns around the country to put the finishing touches on
floragraph portraits and present dedicated roses to donor families. This last
year alone, the Donate Life float generated more than 700 media stories
nationwide.
The 2013 Donate Life float is built by Phoenix Decorating
Co., from a design by Dave Pittman and is coordinated by Donate Life America
member OneLegacy. The Donate Life float campaign is supported by more
than 120 official sponsors from coast to coast, including organ and tissue
recovery organizations, tissue banks, state donor registries, transplant
centers, hospitals, funeral homes and affiliated organizations. Joining
OneLegacy as top-level benefactors are the Dignity Memorial® network, North America’s
largest network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers; the American
Association of Tissue Banks (AATB); Donate Life America; and the United
Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and their National Donor Memorial.
To date all 30 float riders and 63 of 72 floragraphs have been sponsored.
All Donate Life float sponsors encourage parade viewers to join
the 105 million registered donors in America so that everyone whose life
depends on a transplant may receive one. Registrations can be made through
state registries or at www.DonateLifeAmerica.org.
Further information about the Donate Life float can be found at www.donatelifefloat.org.
The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a volunteer organization
that annually hosts the Rose Parade® presented by Honda, Rose Bowl Game® presented
by VIZIO and various associated events. The 124th Rose Parade presented by
Honda, themed “Oh, the Places
You’ll Go!™,” will take place Tuesday, Jan. 1,
2013, at 8 a.m. (PST) featuring majestic floral floats, high-stepping
equestrian units and spirited marching bands. Following the parade, the 99th
Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO will kick off at 2:10 p.m. and feature an
exciting match-up between two of the top collegiate football teams in the
nation. For additional information on the Tournament of Roses please visit the
official website at www.tournamentofroses.com.

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